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Carolina Senior Living Apartments opens

Carolina Senior Living Apartments resident Helen Hoover (right) repositions an item on her dresser in her bedroom while visitors tour her apartment during an open house at the new facility on East Center Street. Hoover's niece, Martha Embrey, is at left.

Published: Thursday, August 21, 2014 at 5:40 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, August 21, 2014 at 5:40 p.m.

United Church Homes and Services opened the doors to the new Carolina Senior Living Apartments on Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour.

The 30,540-square-foot building will provide high-quality, affordable, supportive housing for low-income seniors. There are 30 spacious one-bedroom resident units in the three-story building located beside Carolina SeniorCare adult day center on East Center Street.

"I like it," said tenant Christine Peebles. "It's so comfortable and quiet. It's an ideal situation with my fixed income. I'm glad they built it. It's a real good opportunity for the senior citizens to have."

Officials broke ground on the facility in July 2013 and offered a dusty shoe tour midstream in October 2013. The place is half filled with the remaining spots spoken for. There is also a waiting list for tenants.

Features of the units include a fully operational kitchen, individually controlled heating and cooling system and secured entry. Additional amenities are a multipurpose community room with a kitchen, a screened-in porch, a common laundry room, library, lobby and office for staff. Also the project is certified under the EarthCraft green building program to ensure efficient and sustainable design and construction.

"This is a special day. I congratulate you on this," said Lexington Mayor Newell Clark. "It's an exciting opportunity to serve our seniors. We can't thank you enough. We wish you well. We know it's a needed service."

The apartment units are located beside Carolina SeniorCare adult day center that opened in September 2012 and provides medical and support services to elderly residents.

Carolina SeniorCare is a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly covering four counties — Davidson, Rowan, Davie and Iredell. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the State of North Carolina regulate the PACE model.

It provides a spectrum of services to seniors with disabilities or health concerns who want to remain at home or in their community. Through the health care program, participants will be able to receive medical and supportive services in their homes. The time can be limited or long-term care for frail elderly.

The PACE and senior living program work together to fill a void within the community for older seniors who are economically challenged, said Aimee Reimann, chief operating officer of Carolina SeniorCare. Carolina Senior Living provides a safe and secure environment for individuals 62 years old and older, while Carolina SeniorCare PACE provides socialization, hot meals, clinical care and transportation, according to a press release.

"It's an awesome opportunity. Both programs give each other purpose. I'm just thrilled and excited about the opportunities," Reimann said.

Christine Tiano is one of the nine tenants who participates in both programs.

"I love it," she said. "It's small and just enough to handle. I do all kinds of activities (at Carolina SeniorCare). I get to meet a lot of friends."

UCHS is a not-for-profit corporation that focuses on providing seniors living opportunities and programs of outreach to enrich the lives of those served. Based in Newton, the agency operates three continuing care retirement communities, a PACE and six affordable senior housing communities across North Carolina and Virginia, according to a press release.

Carolina Senior Living will be the seventh HUD Section 202 supportive housing community for the elderly in the state supported by UCHS.

"I'm thrilled about the outpouring of support we were given from the community," said Lee Syria, president/CEO of UCHS.

Deneesha Edwards can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 213, or at deneesha.edwards@the-dispatch.com. Follow Deneesha on Twitter: @LexDispatchDE

<p>United Church Homes and Services opened the doors to the new Carolina Senior Living Apartments on Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour.</p><p>The 30,540-square-foot building will provide high-quality, affordable, supportive housing for low-income seniors. There are 30 spacious one-bedroom resident units in the three-story building located beside Carolina SeniorCare adult day center on East Center Street. </p><p>"I like it," said tenant Christine Peebles. "It's so comfortable and quiet. It's an ideal situation with my fixed income. I'm glad they built it. It's a real good opportunity for the senior citizens to have."</p><p>Officials broke ground on the facility in July 2013 and offered a dusty shoe tour midstream in October 2013. The place is half filled with the remaining spots spoken for. There is also a waiting list for tenants. </p><p>Features of the units include a fully operational kitchen, individually controlled heating and cooling system and secured entry. Additional amenities are a multipurpose community room with a kitchen, a screened-in porch, a common laundry room, library, lobby and office for staff. Also the project is certified under the EarthCraft green building program to ensure efficient and sustainable design and construction.</p><p>"This is a special day. I congratulate you on this," said Lexington Mayor Newell Clark. "It's an exciting opportunity to serve our seniors. We can't thank you enough. We wish you well. We know it's a needed service."</p><p>The apartment units are located beside Carolina SeniorCare adult day center that opened in September 2012 and provides medical and support services to elderly residents.</p><p>Carolina SeniorCare is a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly covering four counties — Davidson, Rowan, Davie and Iredell. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the State of North Carolina regulate the PACE model.</p><p>It provides a spectrum of services to seniors with disabilities or health concerns who want to remain at home or in their community. Through the health care program, participants will be able to receive medical and supportive services in their homes. The time can be limited or long-term care for frail elderly.</p><p>The PACE and senior living program work together to fill a void within the community for older seniors who are economically challenged, said Aimee Reimann, chief operating officer of Carolina SeniorCare. Carolina Senior Living provides a safe and secure environment for individuals 62 years old and older, while Carolina SeniorCare PACE provides socialization, hot meals, clinical care and transportation, according to a press release.</p><p>"It's an awesome opportunity. Both programs give each other purpose. I'm just thrilled and excited about the opportunities," Reimann said.</p><p>Christine Tiano is one of the nine tenants who participates in both programs.</p><p>"I love it," she said. "It's small and just enough to handle. I do all kinds of activities (at Carolina SeniorCare). I get to meet a lot of friends."</p><p>UCHS is a not-for-profit corporation that focuses on providing seniors living opportunities and programs of outreach to enrich the lives of those served. Based in Newton, the agency operates three continuing care retirement communities, a PACE and six affordable senior housing communities across North Carolina and Virginia, according to a press release.</p><p>Carolina Senior Living will be the seventh HUD Section 202 supportive housing community for the elderly in the state supported by UCHS. </p><p>"I'm thrilled about the outpouring of support we were given from the community," said Lee Syria, president/CEO of UCHS.</p><p>Deneesha Edwards can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 213, or at deneesha.edwards@the-dispatch.com. Follow Deneesha on Twitter: @LexDispatchDE</p>